Windshield wiper apparatus



. Ian. 22, 1952 T. SMULSKI 2,583,126

WIND-SHIELD WIPER APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 11, 1943 THEODORE J. SMULSK/ ATTORNEY INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 22, 1952 WINDSHIELDWIPER APPARATUS Theodore J. Smulski, Gary, Ind.,-. assign'or to. Productiverlnventions, Inc.,-a; corporation of Indiana:

Continuation of application SeriaTNo; 475,482,

February 11, 1943.

This application N ovember 19, 1945} Serial-N0. 629, 653

1.4 Claims. 1t

.MyidnYeDtiOH relates to T'Wil'ldShiGldLWiDQI'SfiD-d more zpa-rticularlyyto an apparatus for: hand-operated windshield wipers;

This application is a vcontinuation of my application Serial No. 475,482; filedi February 11, 1943,- now abandoned.

Many miiltary vehicles; particularly reconnaissance: cars-= including: armored .cars- I and the lighten cars more popularly, known as vjeeps and peeps; have been equipped with. ,handeoperated windshield wipers; In theoperationof such wipers-sitihassbeenioundiparticularly where the terrain. isqrough, that frequently the operating handle :01. crank :is moved .so far as to cause the wiper arm and the. blade; attached thereto to be moved .05? the glass ontoe-therwindshield frame. .The edge oii the windshield irame adjacent the windshield glass forms": a: relatively sharp step, withwhichtthawipinglelement of the wipervblade comes in: engagement whenever the blade is moved ofilthe windshieldglass: This windshield f-rametstop has sucht ashearing effect on the wiping-element that soon'itis torn tor loosened from-theiramathus rapidlydestroying-the wiper blade Whenthewi-per is parked so. that the blade rests .-.on the windshield rframe, the wiping element is;distorted -so. that a-a-permanentldeformation of the wiping: edge results .thus rendering the blade practically useless,

Due rtfli'the fact.thatsuch vehicles travel over roughtterrazin, the windshieldwiper is subjected to a greatv amount of vibration so that the winds .shield-wipenarm and blade :willnot remain in a Set: position inithe vicinity ofv the windshield frame, wbutswilllslip down and casually swing or vibrate from side toside in the central portionof that areaw-ofthe windshieldthrough which the vehicle pperatormust-look, thus interfering with the operators vision. This vibration and movement lot the wiper arm and blade causes unnecessary wear? of the windshield wiper thereby-impairingtheefliciency. andshortening the life of thewiper;

Ittis desirable-therefore,' to. provide. some. arrangement whereby thelwindshield'wiper is preventedsfrom'being. moved beyond the area of the windshield ;glass,,-, and also to provide some .arr angement; for. keeping the wiper blade and t. arm out -of the normal vision ,area .of. the windshield duringtneriodsuof non-use. Furthermore it is desirable to-provide such anarrangement which canbe installed withoutvmodification orredesign of the'wiperi already; in use, and. without the use 2 hand-operated windshield wipers an apparatus for limiting the range of movementzof the wiper blade on the surface of the windshield.

A further object of my invention is ltoprovide an apparatus for hand-operated. windshield wipersawhich may be readily adapted to present wiper installations for limiting the movement of thewiper and for locking the wiper in a parked position during periodsof non-use of said wiper.

Hand-operated windshield wipers are generally mounted with the shaft passing through the 'lzpperframe vof the windshield, or with theshaft .directlyabovethe windshield frame, awiper arm being connected on the shaft in. front'of' the windshield and a crank handle being mounted on the shaft behind the windshield. In accordancewithmy invention an apparatusis provided for limiting the movement of the windshield wiper, and for retaining the wiper in a predetermined position during periodsrof non-use, this apparatus being desirably made to surround the operating shaft, and being-desirably located between the windshield iraine and the. operating handle or crank for the windshield wiper.

Other. and further objects of my invention subsequently will become apparent herein.

In the accompanying drawing which is a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view'of the insideof a windshield provided with a hand-operated windshield wiper and with associated apparatus embodyingoneillustrative form of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a'fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3'of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional'view showing the locking latch portion of the apparatus of Figure 1, the section being taken upon the line de-tiof Figure 1, looking in the directionindicated by the arrows;

Figure 5 is alview in rear elevation of another illustrative embodiment of my invention and Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure5', the view showing also the relation of the apparatus'of Figure 5 to the windshield frame and theiadjacent portions of the windshield wiper mechanism.

Alportion of a windshield glass 'gsupported in a windshield frame I0 is shown in the'fragmentary views of Figures 1 and 2. While 'thewindshield frame may be of any desired'structure; a

particular frame H) of conventional structure has been shown for conveniently illustrating how the present invention may be applied to a hand-operated windshield wiper installed on a windshield frame. The frame It], as is usual, comprises a rear metallic frame member I l which is L-shaped in cross section and a forward metallic frame member or bezel l2 which is flat. Also in accordance with usual practice, the frame has an inside generally vertical plane surface |3, and generally horizontal plane surfaces such as M and I5. In the particular windshield frame structure shown the glass 9 is surrounded by a resilient or soft material It which, in turn, is mounted within an inner channel member ll of the frame.

Hand-operated windshield wipers are mounted on windshield frames either by mounting the operating shaft directly above the windshield frame in a suitable frame extension attached to the frame, or by mounting the operating shaft through an aperture in the windshield frame, itself.

The latter construction is illustrated in the drawing, wherein it will be seen that a windshield wiper shaft I8 is mounted to extend through suitable apertures formed in the windshield frame members H and l2, so as to project to the rear and to the front of the frame. Immediately adjacent the front of the windshield frame H), the shaft H! has mounted upon it a suitable thrust bearing collar l9, and just forwardly of the collar |9 there is afiixed upon the shaft a wiper arm collar to which the inner section 2| of a windshield wiper arm 22 is attached. The rear end of the wiper shaft |8 desirably has rigidly attached to it an operating handle or wiper crank 23. The operating handle 23 may be afiixed to the wiper shaft IS in any suitable manner, as by impaling the inner end of the arm, between members, upon the rear or inner end of the shaft and upsetting or riveting the end of the shaft as shown at 24.

The crank 23 is desirably a channeled member whose channel faces forwardly, toward the windshield. The shaft IB, the crank 23, the collar l9 and the collar 20 constitute a wiper mounting assembly. The shaft is adapted to be passed 4 windshield frame I 0 at opposite sides of the shaft |8 to prevent substantial rotation of the bracket. At the opposite sides of the shaft |8, the body portion 26 of the bracket 25 is provided with rearwardly projecting stop wings 29 and 30. The wing 29 is inclined downwardly'and outwardly, such that the wing is adapted to be engaged substantially simultaneously throughout its length by the adjacent face of the crank 23 for arresting through a structure, and the crank and collar are 3 limiting relative movement of the shaft and frame.

Apparatus embodying the present invention is mounted between the operating handle or crank 23. and the inner surface I3 of the windshield frame ID. This apparatus comprises an L-shaped sheet metal bracket 25 having a vertically disposed body portion 26 which is formed substantially midway between its ends with means for receiving the wiper shaft [8, such as the aperture 2?. face engagement with the generally vertical inside or rear surface I3 of the windshield frame at opposite sides of the shaft |8. The bracket 25 also includes a forwardly extending portion 28 which is adapted to have extensive engagement with the generally horizontal surface IA of the The body portion 26 has extended surp the crank. While each of the wings 29 and 30 may be similarly formed to engage throughout .its length the crank 23, the wing 30, desirably for ease in manufacture, is formed so that the rivet 34 and the outer end of the wing 30 engage the crank 24 when arresting the movement of the crank. The wings determine opposite limits of movement of the crank 23, limiting the range of movement of the crank 23 and the wiper shaft Hi to an obtuse angle.

By limiting the movement of the wiper crank 23 to an obtuse angle, the wiper arm and blade are caused to be limited to move through a corresponding obtuse angle, and the blade is compelled to remain within the boundaries ofthe windshield glass I at all times. Thus, the blade and arm cannot be damaged, as heretofore, by improper operation of the wiper.

A latch or spring retaining means may also be provided for parking and retaining the wiper in a certain position when not in use. While any one of several such means may be employed, I have shown one of the rearwardly extending stop wings, such as provided with a pivotally mounted latch member 3|. The latch member 3| is provided with a depending portion '32 which terminates in a rearwardly extending hook'portion 33 adapted to engage beneath a portion at least of handle 23, and desirably within the channel portion of the handle 23 'as may be readily understood from Figures 3 and 4. The pivotally mounted latch member 3| may be frictionally attached to the member 3|] by any suitable means such as a rivet 34. The other extremity of the member 3| is provided with a finger piece portion 35 which extends upwardly. The finger piece 35 may be readily grasped by the fingers. The latch member is detained by friction in its operative and inoperative positions, but the friction applied is of a sufiiciently low order to offer no objectionable opposition to the operation of the latch from one to the other of 'said positions.

When the latch 3| is pushed forwardly against the base portion of the bracket 25, the hook portion 33 is out of the path of movement of the crank 23. When the latch'member 3| is moved rearwardly by pulling on the finger portion 35, the hook 33 is moved into the channel of the crank 23, and is thereby caused to engage the crank so as to retain it in the dotted line position shown in Figure 1. When the crank 23 is thus locked in parked position by the latch, the wiper arm 22 and blade 8 are held out of the central area of vision and the wiper is not subjected to unnecessary wear due to vibration.

The portion 26 of the bracket, as illustrated in Figure l of the drawing, is preferably provided with an outstanding lug or projection opposite the wing or lug 30 for the purpose of providing an abutment to limit undue upward movem nt of the latch. In other Words, the latch is guided for movement between spaced abutments, the lug 50 preventing accidental distortion or bending of the latch.

It will be noted that the member 25 adjacent correspond in. location, disposition,

the wipershaft aperture 21is=provided-"with a formed bearing portion which bears. against the crank- 23- 01 against a washer -'positionon the shaftl8-.-

No extraneous fastening means are necessary since the forwardlyextending portion 28 of the bracket 25 engages the 'surface ll ofthewindshield frame at opposite sides of the shaft I8 and, in cooperation with the -=w-iper mounting assembly-"itself, prevents; any angular movement of the=braclset, causing --the positions of the stop portions-.2 9 and 3 t0 be-fixed.

'To'install the present stop and latch apparatus, upon existing structures, itis only necessary to remove the wiper armsectionl I and the collaws and I9 and' then to withdraw :the shaft I8 from the windshield frame l2; 'Thereupon the :bracket maybe slipped over: the shaftand the windshield wiper-parts may be reassembled with one another and with the frame. The wiper: mountingassembly. serves to. hold the bracket 25 -to .thexframein proper relation'to the latter; Nouspecia'l skill or toolv is'requir'ed. to make the installation, nor is the Windshieldor wiper altered in anyway.

Figures .5. and 6 :showanother form of apparatus embodying :my. invention and performing the functions of the apparatus: shown in Figures l'to 4,,inclusive. All of ."the: parts illustrated in Figures 5i'and 6 are-the same-as parts-already illustrated in Figures 1' to 4, and described in connectionwith those figures, save that the bracket 25 0f Figuresl to-4 is'replaced by a: different form of bracketin Figures 5 and 6. Corresponding reference ch'aractershave. accordingly been applied in Figures 5 and6 to parts whichare merely carried overwithoutichange from Figures 1 to 4, and no-furtherdetailed description of "these parts will be given.

In 'the apparatus of 'Figures- J5 and 6 :theang e bracket 40 has a body portion 31 which is pro.- vided'with acentrallylocated bearing portion 38 surrounding a suitable shaft receiving-means or aperturedm -At=the lower edge-of the-body portion 3] there is:a forwardlyturned flange 4.1 which terminates :in an upwardly turnedjflange 42: The flange 42- extends upwardly but .axsho'rt distance soas to push aside a small amount of the resilient material 16 that. surrounds the windshield glass 1 I. Thus, the lower edge of the body --portion 31 is: provided with a forwardly extending channel'edportionwhich embraces a generally horizontal portion I 5'Lof the windshield frame I0. Along-the upper.-boundaries:of the body portion 3:1 rearwardlyi extending angularly related vstopwings-. 43v and 4.4. are provided which structure :andformationto the stop wings :29 and of the .apparatuswshown in Figure; 1. The upwardly extending: flange #42 :"of the bracket: overcomes anytendencyofthe bracket:40:.to be shifted to disengage :the. flange 4:! from the horizontal sureface l Si-of the windshieldzframe when the wiper crank flmengages eitherof'thestop portions '43 and 44. One: ofthese stopportions such as .44, is provided' with: a latch: 45 pivotally mounted thereon by suitable fastening meanssuch as a rivet 46. The construction and mounting of 'the latch 45 are. desirably identical with the construction' andmounting of the latch 13 l, the latch 45ibeing provided withan upstanding finger portionla and-with adepending hook portion M sc-that the latch 45 may: be moved back and forthiandout of engagementiwith an operat- *ing crank or'iarmsuch as 2M whiletheupresent invention has been shown in connection with a hand operatedwindshield wiper which is carried directly by a windshield frame, the principle of the inventionis also applicable. to a hand-operated windshield wiper carried upon the frame through an attachment applied to the-front to form a wiper. mounting extension thereof, as willbe readily apparent to those skilled inthe art.

.Ihave described whatrI believe. to be-the best embodiments-of my invention. I do' not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire tocover by Letters Patent is set;forth in the appended claims.

IJclaim:

1'. In a. hand-operated windshield wiper adapted to bemounted on a windshield which includes, a framehaving a face portion andadjacent external surface portions offset therefrom, in combination, a-wiper mounting assembly including a shaft adapted to extend through the windshield frame and toprotrude at the front and :rear thereof, a wiper arm member mounted on the protruding forward'end of said.

shaft, and an operating crank member mounted on the protruding rearward end of said shaft, a wiper blade. carried bythe arm, and an apparatus located betweensaid windshield frame and one-of the members. mounted on the shaft, said apparatus having a base portion formed so that it may receive and directly engage such shaft and-confined between the windshield frame and the. member last referred'to by the wiper mounting assembly; an additional portion extending in offset relation to said base portion and constructed and arranged to engage an external offset surface portion of said windshiel'dframe in opposition to engagement of the shaft by the base to prevent substantial rocking of said apparatus about the axis of said shaft, and a stop portion extending in offset relation to said base portion and adapted to limit swinging movement of said wiper about the shaft axis.

2. In a hand-operated windshield Wiper adapted to be mounted on a Windshield which includes a franiehaving a face portion and adjacent external surface portions offset therefrom, in combination, a wiper mounting assembly including a shaft adapted to extend through the windshield frameand to protrude at the front andrear thereof, a wiper arm member mounted on the protruding forward end of said shaft, and an operating crank member mounted on the protruding. rearward end of said shaft, a wiper blade carried by the arm, .and an apparatus located between .said*windshield frame and one of the members mounted on the. shaft, said apparatushaving a base portion formed sothat it may receiveand directly engage such shaft and confined between the windshield frame-and the member last referred to by the wiper-mountingassernbly, an additional portion extending in offset relation to said baseportion and constructed and arranged to engage an external offset'surface portion of said windshield frame in opposition to engagement of the shaft by the base to restrict rocking of'said apparatus about the axis of said shaft, stop portions each extending from said base portion in offset relation thereto and adapted to limit the swinging movementof said wiper about-the axis of the shaft, and a latch member pivotally mounted on one of said stop members for fore and aft adjustment, adapted to be set'in an inoperative position clear of the-wiper crank path or to be set in the operating path of said wiper crank to engage a portion of the crank and thereby to retain the wiper in a predetermined position during periods of non-use of such wiper.

3. In a hand-operated windshield wiper adapted to be mounted on a windshield which includes a frame having a face portion and adjacent external surface portions offset therefrom, in combination, a wiper mounting assembly which comprises a shaft adapted to extend through the windshield frame and to protrude at the front and rear thereof, a wiper arm member mounted on the forward end of such shaft, and an operating handle member mounted on the rearward end of said shaft, a wiper blade carried by the arm, and an apparatus located between said windshield frame and one of the members mounted on the shaft, said apparatus having a base portion formed to receive and directly engage said shaft and confined between the windshield frame and the member last referred to by the wiper mounting assembly, an additional portion extending in offset relation to said base portion and constructed and arranged to engage an external offset surface portion of said windshield frame in opposition to engagement of the shaft by the base to restrict rocking of said apparatus about the axis of said shaft, a stop portion extending in offset relation to said base portion for limiting the swinging movement of said wiper about the axis of the shaft, thereby to prevent the wiper blade from leaving the area within the windshield frame, and detainingmeans comprising a part of the assembly for holding said wiper in a predetermined position during periods of non-use of said wiper.

4. In a hand-operated windshield wiper adapted to be mounted on a windshield frame, in combination, a wiper mounting assembly comprising a shaft adapted to extend through the windshield frame and to protrude at the front and rear thereof, a member mounted on the front end of said shaft, to restrict rearward movement of the shaft, and an operating crank handle mounted on the rear end of such shaft, and a member mounted and held between the said crank handle and said windshield frame by the Wiper mounting assembly, said latter member having a. base portion adapted to receive and directly engage a wiper shaft at an intermediate point thereon, said base portion being adapted to engage a rear surface of said windshield frame, forwardly extending portions constructed and arranged to engage, in opposition to engagement of the shaft by the bases external surface portions of said windshield frame which extend transversely of the plane of the windshield, and a rearwardly extending stop portion adjacent the opposite edge of said base, said stop portion being positioned so as to engage said crank and limit the swinging movement thereof in one direction about the axis of the shaft.

5. In a hand-operated windshield wiper adapted to be mounted on a channeled windshield frame which supports therein a windshield glass, in combination, a wiper mounting assembly including a shaft adapted to extend through the frame and to protrude at the front and rear thereof, a wiper arm member mounted on the front end of said shaft and an operating crank member mounted on the rear end of said shaft, and an apparatus adapted to be mounted between said frame and one of the members mounted on the shaft comprising a base portion adapted to engage a face of the windshield frame at widely spaced points, said base portion formed to receive and directly engage the shaft and being held between the windshield frame and the member last referred to by the wiper mounting assembly, an additional portion extending in offset relation to said base portion and terminating in an outturned portion constructed and aranged to engage a channel wall of the windshield frame in opposition to engagement of the shaft by the base and to embrace said wall for preventing substantial rocking of said apparatus about the axis of the shaft, and a stop portion extending from said base portion in offset relation thereto and adapted to limit the swinging movement of said wiper in one direction about the axis of the shaft.

6. A stop and detaining apparatus for a windshield wiper which includes a wiper mounting assembly comprising a shaft adapted to extend through a windshield frame and to protrude at the front and rear thereof, a wiper arm member mounted on the forward end of such shaft, a member adapted to be operated mounted on the rearward end of said shaft, and a wiper blade carried by the arm, said apparatus having a base portion formed so that it may receive and directly engage said shaft and adapted to be held between the windshield frame and one of the members on the shaft, an additional portion extending in offset relation to said base portion and constructed and arranged to engage an external offset surface portion of the windshield frame in opposition to engagement of the shaft by said base to prevent substantial rockin of said apparatus about the axis of said shaft, stop portions extending in offset relation to said base portion for limiting the swinging movement of said Wiper about the axis of the shaft, thereby to prevent the wiper blade from leaving the area within the windshield frame, and detaining means for holding said wiper in a predetermined position during periods of non-use of the wiper.

'7. A stop apparatus for a windshield wiper which includes a wiper mounting assembly comprising a shaft adapted to extend through a windshield frame and to protrude at the front and rear thereof, a wiper arm member mounted on the forward end of such shaft, a member adapted to be operated mounted on the rearward end of said shaft, and a wiper blade carried by the arm; said apparatus adapted to be located between the frame and one of the members mounted on the'shaft and having a base portion formed so that it may receive and directly engagesuch shaft and be confined between the windshield frame and the-member last referred to by the wiper mounting assembly, an additional portion extending in offset relation to said base portion and constructed and arranged to engage an external offset surface portion of said windshield frame in opposition to engagement of the shaft by said base to prevent substantial rocking of said apparatus about the axis of the shaft, and a stop portion extending in offset relation to said base portion and adapted to limit the swinging movement of said wiper in one direction about the axis of the shaft.

8. A unitary article of manufacture for holding a pivotal windshield wiper means, said article consisting of, a member adapted to be mounted with respect to the frame of a windshield, stop means provided on said member for limiting movement of the wiper means in one direction, independently operable latch means carried. by

said stop means, and means also on said member which may be engaged by the latch means whereby to prevent damage to said latch means when it is excessively moved in a direction substantially transverse to its regular plane of movement.

9. A unitary article of manufacture for holding a movable element of a windshield wiper, said article consisting of a member having a generally planar portion adapted to engage one surface of a support and an angle portion extending in one direction from the planar portion adapted to engage another surface of such support, means extending from the planar portion in a direction opposite to that of said angle portion, a latch operatively connected to said extending means for movement in a plane generally transverse to said planar portion, and means also on said member provided adjacent said extending means whereby to assist in preventing distortion of said latch when it is moved out of its plane in one direction.

10. A unitary article of manufacture for holding a windshield wiper device having a movable element, said article consisting of a member having a substantially planar portion provided with an aperture adapted to receive a pivotal drive shaft for the device in a manner whereby the shaft provides means for attaching the member to a mounting, immovable means carried by and projecting from the member, independently operable latch means carried by a part of the immovable means for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to said planar portion, said immovable means being constructed to receive the latch means, and said latch means having a hook portion for engaging the movable element to lock it in a predetermined position with respect to said planar portion and a finger portion for manipulating the latch means.

11. A unitary article of manufacture for holding a crank of a windshield wiper device, said article consisting of an elongated bracket adapted for attachment to a mounting, the extremities of said bracket being provided with outwardly extending stops for limiting rotation of the crank in opposite directions, and a latch mounted on one of the bracket extremities for holding the crank relative to one of the stops.

12. A unitary article of manufacture consisting of an elongated bracket adapted to be mounted adjacent to the frame of a windshield, said bracket being provided with an aperture through which a drive shaft may be extended to pivotally support a wiper arm and crank, a first stop on one extremity of the bracket for limiting movement of the crank in one direction, a latch pivoted on the stop for engaging and holding the crank relative to the stop, and a second stop on the other extremity of the bracket for limiting movement of the crank in an opposite direction.

13. A unitary article of manufacture for holding a crank of a windshield wiper device, said article consisting of an elongated bracketadapted for attachment to a mounting, the extremities of said bracket being provided with outwardly extending stops for limiting rotation of the crank, a latch pivotally mounted on one of the stops for movement in a single plane for holding the crank relative to said stop, and a lug carried by said bracket located in spaced apart relationship to said one stop providing an abutment which may be engaged by the latch to prevent distortion of the latch when the latter is accidently moved out of its regular plane of movement.-

14. A unitary article of manufacture forholding an arm of a windshield wiper device, said article consisting of an elongated bracket adapted for attachment to a mounting, the extremities of said bracket being provided with outwardly extending stops for limiting rotation of the arm, a latch pivotally mounted on one of the stops for movement in a single plane for holding the arm relative to said stop, and a lug carried by said bracket located in spaced apart relationship to said one stop providing an abutment which may be engaged by the latch to prevent distortion of the latch when the latter is accidentally moved out of its regular plane of movement.

THEODORE J. SMULSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 186,715 Deal Jan. 30, 1877 353,025 Grant Nov. 23, 1886 388,149 Powell Aug. 21, 1888 669,034 Manly Feb. 26, 1901 1,065,525 Henkel June 24, 1913 1,110,368 Young Sept. 15, 1914 1,165,704 Ousley Dec. 28, 1915 1,355,728 Bennett Oct. 12, 1920 1,639,778 Locke Aug. 23, 1927 1,687,412 White Oct. 9, 1928 

